[D2 MA Silver Frog 3rd District] For formality's sake

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura glanced around at Silver Frog. She was invited to a sake branding event (those are a thing?!) tonight, and the invite stated "dress accordingly."

What in Daikoku's golden balls does that mean?!

Deciding to err on the safer side of things, Sakura looked around at the department store. She looked at some Scorpion cuts, and although those looked nice, they probably did not complement someone who is on the plainer side of things....not to mention she was pretty sure not every designer knew how a woman's anatomy worked.

The Dragon style was certainly unorthodox....although at least half of them allowed a larger than average cleavage for some odd reason.

Maybe in the Yasuki section she can find something...

[Asahina Hinata]

Maybe in the Yasuki section she can find something...

Meanwhile Hinata was also perusing the fashion sections . . . the female fashions. He didn't seem particularly impressed so far and Sakura could hear a slightly annoyed Crane approaching behind her.

"No no no no no! Wrong blue! There must be some cute stuff in the right colour somewhere . . . "

[Hotaru Sakura]

Meanwhile Hinata was also perusing the fashion sections . . . the female fashions. He didn't seem particularly impressed so far and Sakura could hear a slightly annoyed Crane approaching behind her.

"No no no no no! Wrong blue! There must be some cute stuff in the right colour somewhere . . . "

Sakura glanced towards the muttering.

Ugh, who could tha-


"Asahina-sama?!?!?!?!" She seemed to be in shock. Was it really...ASAHINA HINATA?!

[Asahina Hinata]

The shock was catching as Hinata had not seen her over the clothes aisles. He jumped slightly before recovering and smoothing out imaginary bumps in his clothing, which today was a casual blue striped top, shorts that almost seemed a skirt and yet another different pair of stripy blue kneesocks.

"Ahh . . . oh Hotaru-san? You were talking to Usagi-sama last night yes??"

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Ha-hai." She responded in her own shock. HE REMEMBERS ME!

"Ano....are you looking for something to wear? Can I help you? With anything? And I mean anything, really!"

[Asahina Hinata]

"Oh I'm just seeing if they have any nice things I could wear at the Sake thing tonight. I mean I have loads with me, but I've worn most of it before. A new event needs new clothes, don't you think?"

The speech was accompanied by various expressions of disgust as he looked at the clothes in Crab colours nearby.

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Oh I'm just seeing if they have any nice things I could wear at the Sake thing tonight. I mean I have loads with me, but I've worn most of it before. A new event needs new clothes, don't you think?"

The speech was accompanied by various expressions of disgust as he looked at the clothes in Crab colours nearby.

"Ah, Asahina-sama is coming? Oh, of course he's coming! You're coming." She seemed a bit flustered for a moment. "Have you found anything perhaps?" She doubted it judging by his expressions. "If Asahina-sama is looking for something more...different, the Dragon cuts were quite...the thing."

[Asahina Hinata]

"Ugh Dragon . . . they never have sizes small enough. I end up looking at the children's ranges just to find something that will fit. Why isn't there any Crane stuff hereeeeee?"

Obviously it was a Scorpion plot to make him wear not-blue.

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Ugh Dragon . . . they never have sizes small enough. I end up looking at the children's ranges just to find something that will fit. Why isn't there any Crane stuff hereeeeee?"

Obviously it was a Scorpion plot to make him wear not-blue.

"Ah, the children's range?" That explains soooo much! "I see, I see. There are some Scorpion outfits that are quite slim, and well...short, because...you know. Scorpion legs." She pointed towards the outfits. "Honestly, if I had the right...attributes, those would be great. Instead, I am stuck with this." She waved at her lithe, athletic body that was woefully small hipped and flat chested.

[Asahina Hinata]

Well Hinata was equally flat chested, but beat her handsomely in the hip department, but he wasn't one to brag. Not yet anyway, he hardly knew her!

"Scorpion stuff . . . well they might have something my style but it won't be the right colours . . . I guess I can look."

[Hotaru Sakura]

Well Hinata was equally flat chested, but beat her handsomely in the hip department, but he wasn't one to brag. Not yet anyway, he hardly knew her!

"Scorpion stuff . . . well they might have something my style but it won't be the right colours . . . I guess I can look."

"Ah, what colors are Asahina-sama looking for?" She glanced around, and noticed a short red dress. It looked perfect...but the V-cut was far too deep.

Ugh.

"Asahina-sama is good with fashion, neh?"

[Asahina Hinata]

"Crane blue, or white, or silver."

He looked surprised she didn't know already.

"Maybe pink."

He looked at the dress she had looked at.

"Oh that's totally for one of those Scorps."

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Crane blue, or white, or silver."

He looked surprised she didn't know already.

"Maybe pink."

He looked at the dress she had looked at.

"Oh that's totally for one of those Scorps."

"Yeah...ah, pink?" She glanced around. "I think I saw something Salmonish in the Dragon area....oh." It was salmon pink...and also super looong, with long sleeves. "Well....the color is at least good?"

She was usually shy, but somehow, seeing Rei acting cool with THE YAKUMO gave her some courage.

"Would...Asahina-sama have some suggestions for me? What does one usually wear to a sake unveiling event?"

[Asahina Hinata]

"Oh I'm not keen on long sleeves. I trip over them! Much prefer tight, figure hugging stuff so I can show my lines off."

Which he then did.

"Well it's a formal event so you can't go in anything plain and boring. Nothing like a uniform unless it's a really fancy dress uniform. You'll need to stick to clan colours or close . . . . "

He looked in pain . . . or maybe just concentrating really hard.

" . . . err what are the Firefly colours . . . ?"

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Well, I don't have any fancy uniform...unless you count the hoodie with the Firefly mon." She bit her lip. "Gold and....brown?" She raised an eyebrow. "Hm...what do you think of some kind of business attire maybe? A suit perhaps?"

[Asahina Hinata]

"Oh no, no, no, no! A suit won't do!. It's a party, not a corporate board meeting! You need something elegant and sophisticated."

He looked at her again.

"It can include pants, but please . . . not a boring suit jacket."

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Oh no, no, no, no! A suit won't do!. It's a party, not a corporate board meeting! You need something elegant and sophisticated."

He looked at her again.

"It can include pants, but please . . . not a boring suit jacket."

"Hm...what counts as elegant Asahina-sama? I am not well versed...how about this?" She pointed at a dress thst was the definition of poofy.

[Asahina Hinata]

He cocked his head to one side and looked at the dress.

"That's more cutesey than elegant. These days something sleeker with a few less frills. I know my clan are starting to put the gothic look out there, but it isn't here yet."

He went looking and found a long black dress with a slash up the left thigh. A quite high slash.

"This is more like it."

[Hotaru Sakura]

He cocked his head to one side and looked at the dress.

"That's more cutesey than elegant. These days something sleeker with a few less frills. I know my clan are starting to put the gothic look out there, but it isn't here yet."

He went looking and found a long black dress with a slash up the left thigh. A quite high slash.

"This is more like it."

"Ooooooh. I quite like it actually Asahina-sama." She looked at the dress. "It's Scorpion-y, but not too Scorpion-y, just Scorpion-y enough?" She glanced at the Asahina, hoping he understood what she was saying...not that SHE understood what she was saying.

[Asahina Hinata]

Apparently he understood just fine. Or misunderstood in a fine manner. One of the two.

"Some might say it's plain being one colour, but sometimes that's exactly what you want. Accessories are where the colour comes in, with your clan mon and any other symbols you need."

The top blue stripes of his top sported an Asahina mon and he tapped one to emphasise the point.